McNair double in Silver Salver semis

McNairs dominate Silver Salver semis

There were some surprise results in the semi-finals of the ARC Silver Salver semi-finals at Central Park on Saturday evening.

All three short-priced favourites were turned over, and it was Liz and Rab McNair who stole the headlines with a double for the kennel.

First up was King Jackson, who got first run on 4/9 favourite Rioja Oisin to squeeze round in front and it was plain sailing thereafter for the 9/2 shot as he stopped the clock at 16.29 (-15).

King Jackson came home three lengths clear of Rioja Oisin, who recovered very well from the first-bend crowding to get back up for second.

Assistant trainer, Rab McNair, said: “He ran brilliant. He came away tonight and when he comes away, he’s a fast dog.

“He’s in the final for us now and we’ll see how it goes.”

Ballinakill Liam was sent off at 4/5 for the second semi-final but he failed to land a blow on the impressive King Presley.

The Mark Wallis-trained favourite couldn’t match the fast start and early speed of the winner, and the latter made all by a length a quarter from that rival in a standard-setting 16.22 (-15).

McNair added: “Presley is a sprinter. He’s a different type of dog to Jackson – he’s an out-an-out sprinter.

"He was also brilliant. He flashed the boxes, got the corner and that was it. They won’t catch him.

“This is my local track and they always look after us well, so it’s always good to get a couple in the final here.”

The biggest shock came in the third qualifier as Beaming Isla defied odds of 10/1 to beat 6/5 favourite Pavilion Team by a length,

There was no fluke about her success, as Maxine Locke’s bitch showed by far the better early pace into the corner and maintained her advantage to score in 16.41 (-15).

Representing the Locke kennel, Rob Howe said: “She came out well and she’s got blistering early speed.

“Once she cleared trap one (Oakfield Murty), she used her position well and hugged the bend to go round in front. 

“It’s nice to see her get a win and we’re looking forward to next week.”

That formed part of a four-timer on the night for Locke. She kicked off the card with two winners courtesy of Untold Tether (11/4), who took the 491m puppy contest in 30.05 (-30), and Droopys Will, who justified 11/10 favouritism in a sprint by three and three-quarter lengths in 16.44 (-15).

Locke’s quartet of winners was completed by Ballymac Kobe, a facile all-the-way winner by six lengths over 491m in 29.20 (-30).

There were two heats of the Jenningsbet Bitches Trophy on the menu at the Kent circuit, with Barry O’Sullivan’s Head Count (5/6fav) overcoming traffic problems to land the first instalment in 29.83 (-30) from Coolavanny Sissy and Ballymac Mist.

The second heat of the 491m also went to the favourite in the shape of Hopes Kitty, who touched off Tuono Bella by a short head in 29.32 (-30), with Coppice Miley well back in third.

King Stevens sprang a 25/1 surprise when making all over 491m for Frank Macklin, while Dan Brabon’s Devonshire Lady (11/4) powered home to land a maiden over the same trip at the end of the night.

Two 664m contests also featured and the Nick Carter-trained Burgess Sophia (7/1) flew home to deny 4/5 favourite hot Jackie for a 41.16 (-45) success in the first of them, while Commanche posted a time of 41.00 (-45) when dominating the other six-bend contest at 100/30.